Web-guiding, tensioning, fulling, and smoothing mechanism for forming machines



June 29, 1943. LE BARON w, NE 2,323,234

- WEB GUIDING, TENSIONING, FULLING AND SMOOTHING MECHANISM FOR FORMING MACHINES Filed April 30, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Le Ema/v Mums: N554 2 BY mq mf TORNEY LE BARON w. NEELY Filed April 50, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR 1.23am; .WM- -M IV 1. BY '4. v

5 ORNEY MECHANISM FOR FORMING MACHINES WEB GUIDING, TENSIONING, FULLING AND SMOOTHING 5% Ev. 3 2M gm Em gw June 29, 1943.

June 29, 1943.

LE BARON W. NEELY WEB GUIDING, TENSIONING, FULLING AND SMO MECHANISM FOR FORMING MACHINES Filed April 30, 1941 INVENTOR LE BAROI I M414: Nagy Patented June 29, 1943 WEB-GUIDING, TENSIONING, FULLING, AND SMOOTHING MECHANISM FOR FORMING MACHINES Le Baron Wallace Neely, Amesbury, Mass., as! signer to Merrimac Hat Corporation, a corpora tion of Massachusetts Application April 30, 1941, Serial No. 391,122

44 Claims. (01. 19-149) The present invention relates to apparatus forforming shaped articles from a fibrous web,

as by Wrapping the web about a shaping form' or mandrel, and particularly to such apparatus wherein the web is traversed back and forth along the shaping form as it is applied thereto, and wherein the longitudinal pull of the forming mechanism on the web is uneven across the web and varies as'the web is traversed.

general object of th invention is to provide, in apparatus of the type referred to, web supporting and guiding mechanism which autoinatically directs the web and controls its tension as the web passes to the shaping form. A further general object is to provide in such ap-' paratus, means for automatically smoothing the web as it passes onto the shaping form. Ah other general object is to provide in such mechanism meansfor automatically controlling the wrapping of the web upon the ends of the form. Another general object of the invention is to provide such mechanism which is capable of performing the aforementioned operations upon a Web of delicate character, such as a thin felt of carded short wool fibres in the form in which itissues from the carding machine, without injuring the web,

An an example of forming apparatus to which the present invention is applicable may be men tioned that employed in preparing conical-tubulei felt blanks for use in the manufacture of felt hats. In a common form of such apparatus, a felt of carded wool fibres is wound upon a forming block in the shape of a pair of cones abutted at their large end, the block being continuously rotated about its long axis by means of a bed of conical driven rollers on which it loosely rests. The block, which is longer than the width of the web, is continually swung about a vertical axis near its center, causingthe web to b traversed endwise of the form and to be wound spirally thereon, with portions overlapping the ends. When the desired thickness of felt has been wound upon the form, the formed felt is out through around the center of the form, separating the double ended cone of formed felt into two single cones which are withdrawn from the ends of the form.

In apparatus as just described, the pull of the form on the portion of the felt web being wrapped on the large central portion of the cone is considerably greater than the pull on the portion of the web being wrapped on the smaller ends of th form. If the web is permitted to pass onto the form under varying degrees of longitudinal tension, undesirable bulges and wrinkles will be produced in the felt blank. For this reason, it has been the practice in the use of such apparatus for an attendant to manipulate the Web with his or her hands as it approaches the form, directing the Web-andadjusting its tension by variously lifting; pulling and turningfithe web as'it is traversed endwise of the swinging rotating form. The attendant also pats'and smooths the web over the ends of the form. Such hand manipulation of the web is a difiicult, fatiguing task,

requiring very considerable skill, and even when performed with the most painstaking care, does not attain the desired complete uniformity in the tightness of the wind.

A special object of this invention is to provide, in :tubular felt blank forming-apparatus of the type just described, mechanism for automatically guiding and controlling the web to permit it to pass smoothly, under substantially uniform tension, onto all parts of the form, thereby enabling the" production of properly formed, smooth and evenly. textured blanks without hand manipulation of the web. A further special object of the'invention isto provide, as a part of such mechanism, means for automatically smoothing" down the web about the ends of the form; I

The foregoing and other general and. special objects and advantages of the invention will more clearly appear from the ensuing particular description of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein- Fig. 1 is a side-elevation of hat-body forming apparatus and of a portion of apparatus for supplyinga felt webthereto, embodying mechanism of the present, invention;

Fig. .2 is a-fragmentary plan View of parts of the formingblock swinging mechanism and of web-supporting and guiding frame operating linkage connected thereto, as shown in Fig. 1;

Fig, 3 is a front perspective view, with parts broken away, of apparatus shown in Fig. 1, showing a web being supplied to the forming block under the-action of the web tension controlling and guiding means, at one extremity of the path of swinging movement of the block; Fig. Lisa top plan view of parts of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, showing in full lines the position of the parts when the forming block is midway of its path of swinging movement, and indicating, by dotted. lines, the changed position of certain of the. parts when the form ing block is at one limit of its path of swing-- ing movement;

Fig. 5 isa rear elevat on, with parts broken away and. parts in section, of the forming block, the block supporting rollers and frame, the end tamping devices in idle position and their operating cam rails, the operative position of the end tampersbeing. indicated bydotted lines.

In the accompanying drawings I have chosen to illustrate the mechanism '-of the invention as applied to'wool hat-body forming apparatus of nism disclosed in United States Patent No."

2,099,330, issued November'l6, 1937, the appa ratus being arranged, as is conventional, toreceive and shape a web of felted wool fibres as it issues from a carding machine. It should be understood, however, thatI do not intend thereby to limit the invention, which is of broader application, to use with this particular type or arrangement of forming apparatus, nor with this particular type of web.

Referring now to those features of the apparatus shown in'the appended drawings which are generally similar to apparatus disclosed in" the aforementioned patents, to' which patents reference' may be had to supplement'the; present general description thereof, the forming apparatus, as best shown in FigrLrhasa base In to the front 'endof which is fixed an upstanding U frame l2,- having-at its upper: end a bearing 14 pivotally receiving a pivotpost-at the top of the vertical arm it of the swinging; form-supporting frame l8. Arm I 6 is pivoted to base I I) by a second bearing and pivot post connection. (not shown) .below the bearing l4, said connections permitting the frame l8 to swing about a vertical axis. Frame l8 includes a horizontal arm29 extending rearwardly from the arm IE, or to the left in Fig. 1, the rearward end of said armbeing turned up as shown. To the upturnedend of the arm 20 and to the upper-apart of arm I6 are pivotally connected by horizontal 'studs 22,

the opposite ends of a pair of U-shaped roller supporting brackets 24 and 26; disposed at oppo site sides of the arm 20.

Rotatably mounted in upstanding bearing blocks on each of the brackets 24 and 26, and projecting endwise' outwardly of said brackets at opposite sides of the apparatus, are forming block driving rollers 30, 30, having the shape of truncated'cones, there beingone pair of said rollers 36, 39' attached toeach of the frames 24 and 26.

'I'he'rollers 3i 3%) form a V-shaped bed in which loosely rests the forming block 32,said block having, as shown, theshape of -a pair of truncated cones with their large ends abutted. Various sizes of forming blocks may =be-used-and to accommodate the bed thereto an adjusting thumb screw 34 is provided extending-through threaded apertures in blocks 36 depending-from the brackets 24 and 28. Turning of the screw 34 in one direction or the other will cause the frames 24 and 26 to spread apart or draw together about the axis of their pivot connection to frame l8, thereby changing the relative inclination of the opposite pairs of rolls 30 forming the bed.

Rollers 30 are continuouslyrotatively driven about their individual axes to'rotate the forming block 32 about its horizonal or-long'axis, causing the block to wind upon its 'surface'the web W. Driving cormections for so operating the rollers 39, which, as shown, are similar to those disclosed in Patent No.'2l2,910, include: a'drive shaft 33 rotatably journaled in bracket 24 and having drive gearing connections (not shown) with the pair of rollers 30 mounted on'bracket 24, said rollers driving the opposite-pairof rollers 30 on bracket 26 through ringgears (not'shown) at their bases; a gear 40 fixed to the forward end of shaft 38, and connected by'ia fixed gear train '42 on the frame I 8 with'a'stub shaft 44 their pivot axis; a gear 45 fixed to the rearward end of stub shaft 44 and meshing with a gear (not shown) on a drive shaft 48 rotatably journaled in fixed bearing supports on the base Iii, gear 46 having an arrangement of teeth such as-to permit it to remain in mesh with the'corresponding gear on shaft 48 throughout the swinging movements of frame !8; and a main drive shaft 50 mounted in bearing blocks 5| on base If] and having bevel gear connection indicated at 52 (Fig. 1) with the rearward end of shaft 48, the shaft '50 being'continually driven by means of pulley 54 and belt 56 from any suitable source of power.

Drive connections for swinging the form support [3 about its vertical axis-which, as shown, are also similar to those disclosed in Patent No. 212,910, comprise, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2: a gear cone 58, comprising a plurality of different sized gears, fixed on shaft 48; a pinion 60 shiftable along a countershaft 62 rotatably journaled in bearing supports 64 of a horizontal rock frame 66 on base Ill, the countershaft 62 being disposed at an angle to shaft 48 corresponding generally to the incline of the gear cone 58, the pinion 60 being selectively engageable, by adjustment along the countershaft, with any one of the component gears of cone 58 to rotate the countershaft therefrom, the frame 66 being rockable by means of suitable pedal connections (not shown) to engage and disengage the pinion 60 from cone 58; a fixed bevel gear 68 on countershaft 62 meshing with a bevel gear 10 on a stub shaft 12 rotatably journaled in the frame 66; a toothed crank disk 14 horizonally rotatably mounted on the base If], meshing with and driven by a gear (not shown) onshaft l2 and having fixed to its upper surface a roller l6 acting in the slot 18 of a cross-head to reciprocate the cross-head forwardly and rearwardly as .the disk 14 is rotated, the crossheadbeing guided by rods 82 fixed thereto and slidable'on bearing blocks 84 on the base If); and an adjustable linktt connecting cross-head 80 with a slotted crank arm 88 projecting from frame 18.

By the drive connections heretofore described, the rollers 39 are continuously rotated about their-axes, at a speed governed by the'speed of rotation of the main drive shaft 58, to rotate the forming block 32, and the frame I8 is constantly reciprocally swung on its pivots to swing the opposite ends of the forming block alternately oppositely from the front toward the rear and from the rear toward the front of the apparatus, at a speed governed by the speed of rotation of the main drive shaft 50 and by the number of teeth of the particular gear of gear cone 58 with which pinion 60 is selectively meshed. Other suitable drive connections may, of course, be utilized.

Preferably, as partially shown in Fig. l, mechanism is provided for periodically severing the formed felt wound on the forming block around the large middle portion of the forming block 32. The particular mechanism herein indicated for this purpose, which is in accordance with that fully disclosed in above-mentioned Patent No. 2,099,330 and need therefore be only briefly described herein, includes: a supporting post 90 secured to the upper pivot post of frame I 8 and swingable with said frame about the same vertical pivot axis; an arm 92 extending rearwardly from the post 90 and adjustable vertically on the post 90; a second arm 04 pivotally connected to the arm 92 and adjustable angularly with respect to arm 02 through an adjustment screw 96 in arm 92; a carriage 98 for a rotary knife I00, said car-v riage pivoted at its front end to arm 94; a knife receiving and driving groove (not shown) around the large central portion of the forming block 32; and a spring governed hand lever I02 on arm 94 for pressing carriage 98 toward forming block 32 to force rotary knife I through the felt layers wound on the forming block into the aforementioned groove in the block.

It will be understood that while the provision of cutting mechanism such as just described is desirable, it is not essential, as the cutting may be performed manually with the aid of sheep shears or the like.

The operation of the apparatus so far described is as follows: The web is led onto the forming block 32 from a suitable supply source at the rear of the block, usually, as herein, from the carding machine which forms the web, the back end of a carding machine frame being indicated at I04 in Fig. 1. The forming block 32 is continually rotated about its horizontal axis by the drive rolls 30, 30, which, in turn, are driven from the main shaft 50 at a rate which is timed to the rate at which the web issues. from the back doifer roll and comb of the carding machine. Rotation of the forming block 32 winds the web about the block and draws the web thereto from the carding machine. As it rotates, the block is continually swung back and forth by the pivoted frame l8 and its driving connections through an arc of around 90 about the vertical pivot axis of frame l3, causing the opposite ends of the block to move alternately toward and away from the carding machine. This swinging movement of the forming block causes the web to be wound spirally around the block alternately from each end to the other, an edge portion of the web being laid over the ends of the block while they are adjacent the rearmost limits of their 'swing-.

ing movement. When a sufiicient thickness of the felt web has been wound upon the forming block, lever I02 is manipulated to press knife I00 through the intervening felt into the central groove around the forming block, said groove maintaining a rotary driving connection with the knife while the forming block is rotated about its horizontal axis, thus causing the knife to cut through the felt over the groove completely around the block. The two separated conical bodies of felt are then removed fro-m the forming block by an operator, the knife is raised, and the winding of new conical bodies proceeds.

It will be evident that the portion of the web adjacent the large central portion of the forming block at any time is being wound on the block more rapidly, and therefore is drawn faster, than portions of the web adjacent the tapering ends of the block. This difference in pull or tension on the web due to the tapering construction of the forming block is accentuated by the swinging of the 'block which causes the tapered ends of the block to move nearer to the web source than the central portion of the block as they receive the web thereon. Unless these differences in pull or tension are compensated for by proper manipulation of the web, the web will be wound more loosely toward the ends of the forming block than at the middle of the block, producing unevenly textured, wrinkled unacceptable bodies or blanks. Also, where, a in hat making, the ends of the'wound bodies are tobe closed, the portions of the web which project beyond the ends of the forming block must be manipulated topress or tamp them down smoothly on the ends of the form.

So far as I am aware, prior to the present invention the uniform practice has been for an operator to manipulate the web in the required manner by lifting, pulling, turning and patting the Web with his or her hands. This is a fatiguing task, requiring considerable skill and constant attendance at each machine. While the prior art-including above-mentioned Patent No. 212,910, contains various suggestions of means for automatically performing these necessary manipulations of the web, these suggestions have, for one reason or another proved impractical. I will now describe the novel mechanism of this invention, a shown inthe accompanying. drawings, which has been applied to-apparatus of the type just described, employed in the manufacture of felt hat bodies and by means of which said apparatus isproducing, without any hand manipulation of theweb, except for occasional cutting and removal of the formed bodies from the forming block, felt hat bodies of superior quality, in that they are more evenly and smoothly wound, than bodies theretofore produced by such apparatus with the aid of skilled hand manipulation of the web.

Web-directing and tension controlling mechanism As shown in Figs. 1; 3 and 4, and particularly in Fig. 3, there is fixedly attached to a suitable fixed support, in the instance shown in Fig. 1,- to carding machine frame I04, an inverted, U- shaped frame 200,- said frame comprising vertical arms 202, 204 disposed at each side of the path of travel of the web W asitpasses fromthe source of supply, in this instance a carding machinato-the forming block 32, and .a horizon--. tal cross-bar 206 disposed over the said path ofthe web. Frame 200 may conveniently, as shown; be constructed of angle iron. Rotatably joure; naled through a bearing 20B attached to theupper surface of cross-bar 206, centrally thereof, and through an upstanding-rear flange 210 of bar 206, is a horizontal rock; shaft. 212, disposed in generally parallel relation to the web path and approximately at the center thereof. Suspended from the shaft 2l2 forwardly of bar 206 by connections, hereinafter described in detail, which'permit it to rock with shaft H2 in a vertical plane about the axis of said shaft, is a vertically disposed, generally rectangular rock frame 2 which surrounds the path of the web. Pivoted at one end to the opposite sides of frame 2|4 are a. pair of forwardly extending arms 2l6, 2H5 having secured in their outer ends the opposite ends of a rider bar 218 which'is preferably round and of glass or highly polished metal to provide a light friction surface. Each of the arms 2l6, 2l6 has secured thereto, by pins 220, 220' an end ofone of each ofa pair of chains 222, 222', the opposite end of -said chains beingv secured to a rod 224 rotatably journaled inthe opposite sides of the frame 2! abovethe arms 2l6, 216' and provided with a handle 226 by which it may be turned to wind or unwind the. chains, raising or lowering the arms -2l6, 2l6', and bar 2"], as desired. A set screw 228 in one side of frame 2M is engageable with rod.224.to lock the rod against rotation; l

Pivotally mounted within rock frame.2'14, upon pivot studs 230 and 232 which project inwardly respectively from thetop and bottom members of frame 214, is a second generally rectangular rock frame 234 which also surrounds the path of movement of the Web. Frame 234, being mounted upon frame 214, is rockable with frame 214 in a vertical plane about the axis of rock shaft 212, and it is also rockable relative to frame 214 in a horizontal plane about the axis of pivot studs 2311 and 232. Fixed to the opposite sides of the frame 234 are the opposite ends'of a web support rod 236 which is bowed upwardly between its ends and is preferably round and provided with a polished, smooth surface. As shown in Fig. 3, the web passes forwardly over the surface'of rod 236, thence forwardly and downwardly under bar 218, which is positioned below the plane of 'rod 236 and engages the upper surface of the web, thence forwardly and upwardly onto the forming block 32.

The connections through which the frame 214, and inner frame 234 which it carries, are suspended from and rocked by the rock shaft 212 desirably permit adjustment of the vertical and horizontal positions of the frames relative to the shaft. As shown herein, particularly in Fig. 3,9these connections comprise a generally rectangular slide frame 238, fixed in endwise, upstanding relation to the upper central portion of frame 214 by a boss 239. Slidably but not rotatably keyed upon. the forward portion of rock shaft 212, is a block 240 having its opposite sides slidably engaged with the opposite sides of slide'frame 238. Rotatably secured in the top of block 2411 is a screw-shaft 242 which extends through a threaded aperture in the top of slide frame 238' and is provided with an adjustment knob or handle 244. By turning the screw shaft 242 in one direction or the other, slide frame 238, frames 214 and 234 and connected parts areraised or lowered relative to block 240 and shaft 212'. By sliding the block 240 along shaft 212-, the horizontal position of these frames and connected parts may be adjusted. To permit of adjustably locking the block 240 against sliding on shaft 212, the forward end of said shaft is screw-threaded and is provided with lock nuts 246 at front and rear of the block 240.

In accordance with the invention, means are provided for reciprocally rocking shaft212 and the frames connectedthereto in synchronism with the swinging movements of the forming block 32 and its supporting frame 18. In the illustrated embodiment, these means comprise, as shown in Figs. 1-3, a slotted crank arm 248 fixed to the rearward end of rockshaft 212 and having adjustably, thereto one end of a link 2511. The opposite end of link 250 is adjustably, pivotally connected to the slotted, vertical arm of a bell crank 252 rotatably journaled in a bearing bracket 254 secured to cross-bar 206 at one side of frame 281]. To the slotted horizontal arm of bell crank 252 is 'adjustably, pivotally connected one end of a vertically extending link 255, the opposite end of which is pivotally connected to a slotted horizontal crank arm 256 fixed to a horizontal rock shaft 258 journaled in bearing brackets 260, 2611" fixed to base 10 (Figs. 1 and 2). A depending crank arm 262, fixed to rock shaft 258 adjacent its opposite end, is pivotally connected by a link 264 to cross-head 80 which, as previously de-- scribed, is reciprocated forwardly and rearwardly to swing the frame 18 and block 32.

pivotally connected- Means are also provided for reciprocally swinging the inner rock frame 234 horizontally about its vertical pivot axis in timed relation to its reciprocal vertical rocking movements, and those of the outer rock frame 214, about the horizontal axis of rock shaft 212. As shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 4- herein, these means comprise a rod 266 fixed to the upper cross-bar of frame 234 centrally thereof and projecting rearwardly therefrom, said rod 266 being received, adjacent its rearward end, through the space between the adtjacent, parallel, vertically extending, lower end portions of a pair of guide rods 263, 2158 extending downwardly below the cross-bar 266 of frame 2110 at the rear thereof, said end portions of rods 268, 268' being shown as offset from the upper portion of the rods and disposed forwardly and somewhat inwardly thereof. The upper ends of the rods 268, 268' are fixed to a plate 211] which is vertically slidable on a standard comprising guide rails 212, 212' projecting from a base block 214, said plate 218 slidably embracing said rails 212, 212' and being releasably held against sliding thereon by thumb screws 215, 215'. Block 214 is mounted upon a bracket plate 216 (see Figs. 1 and 4) fixed to cross-bar 286 and projecting rearwardly therefrom. Block 214 is adjustable forwardly and rearwardly along plate 216, as shown by means of a clamp bolt 218 engaging the under surface of plate 216 and extending into block 214 through a center slot 2811 in plate 216, bolt 218 being slidable longitudinally of slot 289. Slots 282, 282' at either side of the slot 288, through which the rods 268, 268 extend, permit horizontal and vertical adjustment of the position of said rods 268, 268 with reference to plate 215.

The operation of the web guiding and tension controlling mechanism so far described is as follows: The operating linkage connecting rock shaft 212 with cross-head is so adjusted that when cross-head 88 is in the center of its path of forward and rearward reciprocation, as indicated in Fig. 2, rock frames 214 and 234 are in hori zontal position. At this position of the frames, frame 234 is substantially parallel to frame 214 and rod 266 extends rearwardly through the space between the lower ends of rods 268, 288'. With the cross-head 88 at center position, frame 18 and forming block 32 are at the midpoint of the path of their reciprocal swinging movement as indicated by the full lines in Fig. 4 and the web is approximately centered on the high central portion of rod 236, passing over said rod, downward under the bar 218 and. upward onto the large central portion of block 32.

As the cross-head 80 moves from its central to its rearmost position, shaft 258 is rocked through link 264 in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 1, drawing link 255 downward, thereby, through bell crank 252 and link 25!], drawing crank arm 248 to the right as viewed in Fig. 3 and rocking shaft 212 in a clockwise direction as viewed in. said figure, which in turn raises the left hand end and lowers the right hand end of frames 214 and 234 as viewed in Fig. 4 to their tilted position shown in Fig. 3. During the first stage of this rocking or tilting movement, rod 266 is swung in an are about shaft 212, to the left as viewed in Fig. 3, until it engages one of the guide rods 268, 268', left hand rod 268 as viewed in Fig. 3. During the ensuing further tilting of the frames, rod 266, being restrained by engagement with the guide rod from swinging further in said are, causes frame 234 to pivot on the verticalaxis of pivot pins 230, 232, moving the right hand end of frame 234 and of web supporting rod 236 carried by said frame, as viewed in Fig. 3, forwardly of the frame 2M, and the left hand end of frame 234 and rod 236 rearwardly of'frame ,2 l 4.

During this rearward movement of cross-head 80, frame 18 is swung to carry one end of forming block 32 to rearmost position, the left hand end of the block as viewed in Fig. 3. This swing ing movement of the block combined with its rotary movement causes the web to be wound on the block in a spiral progressing from the center to and overlapping said endof the block. During this movement of the forming block, its pull on the right hand side of-the web that is moving toward the central portion of the block is progressively increasing relative to its pull on the left hand side of the web that is approaching the left hand end of the block, due both to the greater diameter of the block near the center and-to the fact that said end of the block has been carried closer to the source of the web than the central portion. This difference in pull is compensated for by the rocking movements just described of the frames and web engaging rod and bar to maintain a substantially even tension on the web, in the following manner.

The lowering of the right hand end of rod 236 and bar 2I8, as viewed in Fig. 3, lowers the right hand side of the web, causing the web to slide toward the right hand end of the rod 236. As the rod 236 curves downwardly at its ends toward the plane of rider bar 2I8, this movement of the web lowers its right hand side relative to the bar 2l8 and the carding machine, thereby reducing the take-up of the rod and bar on this side of the web. At the same time, the right hand end of rod 236, pivoting forwardlywith frame 234 with respect to frame 214 and bar 218, carries the right hand side of the webforwardly toward bar 2|8 and forming block 32, further reducingthe take-up on this side of the web between the rod and the bar. Reversely, the left hand side of the web has slid up toward the higher central portion of rod 236 and the left hand end of rod 236 has been moved rearwardly relative to frame 2M and bar 218, thereby lifting this side of the web relative to tension bar H8 and drawing it rearwardly, increasing the take-up of the rod 236 and rider bar 2l8 on this side of the web.

This slacking-tensioning action of rod 236 has a desirable directing effect upon the web. That is, the side of the web that is beingprogressively slacked by the rod to compensatefor increasing pull by the forming block, i. e., the right hand side as viewed in Fig. 3, is being drawn toward the forming block at an increasing rate relative to the opposite side which is being tensioned by the rod to compensate for relatively decreasing pull and is thereby caused to turn toward said opposite side, i. e., toward the left as viewed in Fig. 3. This turning movement of the web corresponds to the swinging of the forming block and tends to maintain the portion of the web passing from rod 236 to the formingb-lock moving in a direction substantially normal to the swinging, horizontal axis of the block.

As the cross-head 80 moves from rearmost to foremost positions, shaft H2 and frames 2I4 and 234 are rocked the vertical plane in the opposite or counter-clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 3 through a horizontal position, corresponding to central position of the cross-head and forming block, to an oppositely inclined position to that shown in Fig. 3, corresponding to arrival of the right hand end of the forming bloc]; at rearmost position. During the first part of this vertical rocking movement of the frames, rod 266 is moved out of engagement with left hand guide rod 268 to andinto engagement with right hand guide rod 268 and, on further vertical pivoting of the frames, swings frame 234 about its vertical axis through a parallel relation with frame 2 l 4 to an angular position relative to frame 2 l4 opposite to the position shown in Fig. 3. -During these movements of the frame, the right hand end of the forming block is being swung from foremost to rearmost position and the web is being wound on the block in a spiral progressing from the left hand end of the block as viewed in Fig, 3 to the right hand end, While the pull of the block on the left hand side of the web is increasing and its pull on the right hand side decreasing. However, the movement of the frames and connected parts as just described reverses their slackingtensioning effect on opposite sides of the web as previously described, thus constantly compensating for the changing pull of the forming block on the web.

Movemerrt of the cross-head from foremost to central position reverses the rocking movement of the frames andreturns them through horizontal, mutuallyparallel relation to the position shown in Fig. 3, a's'will be understood.

As best shown in Fig. 4, there is provided, between the frame 214 and the source of the web, in this instance, between the frame 214 and the dofier comb (not shown) of the carding machine, 'a fixed horizontal web support, designated generally by the reference numeral 284, which is attached to any convenient fixed supporting framework such as rearwardly extending arms 286, 286 on frame 200. As shown, this support comprises a smooth-surfaced, round bar 288, the ends of which are fixed to the arms 286, and a substantially triangular grid comprising a plurality of round, smooth surfaced, spaced angular rods 296 secured at their opposite ends to the bar 288 and projecting forwardly therefrom, the apex of the triangle formed by the grid lying substantially on the center line of the web path. I have found that this form of support is particularly advantageous when the apparatus is operated upon fragile webs such as a thin, carded fiber felt.

The extent to which frames 2M and 234 are rocked in the vertical planeby the shaft 2 I 2 and'the extent to which frame 234 is swung in a horizontal plane relative to the frame 2 l4 c'anbe varied to a considerable degree by adjustments in the driving linkage to the shaft 2I2, in the connections which suspend frame 2l4 from shaft 2l2, and in the position of guide bars 268, 268' relative to rod 266. The extent of these movements, as wellas the positions of rod 236 and bar 2l8 relative to each other and to the forming block and web source, which are also adjustable, govern the amount of tensioning-slacking effect of rod 236 upon the web. The amount of tensioning-slacking effect of rod 236 on the web which is desirable dependsupon the extent of unevenness of pull of the forming block on th web and this is in turn a variable depending on the size and shape of the particular forming blockused, and can readily be determined. In general, I have found it advisable to so position frame 2 l4 relative to shaft 2l2 that the highcentral portion of rod 236 is a few inches-to the front of the forward tip of support 284'and slightlyabove the plane of 'said supportwhenthe frame234 isin horizontal position. Riderjbar 2l8 issusp'ended somewhat below'rod 236 so that the web is lowered several inches in passing'thereunder. Forming block 32 will usually be disposed with its horizontal axis below the plane of support 284. It will be understood, however, that considerable variations are permissible in these positions and also in the extent of rocking of the frames.

It will also be understood that the important feature of this'aspect of'the' invention is the effect which the web support rod 236, co-operating with bar 2 I 8, has upon the Web, as described, and that the particular means illustrated and described herein for producing the prescribed movements of rod 236 in synchronism with the movements of the block,while' representing a preferred construction, may be departed from in many respects.

Web summing and smoothing a'ifc'ub'rcnt mechanism To avoid wrinkles in the wound web, it is desirable that the Web be kept more or less taut between its edges as it passes from under the tension bar 2| 8 onto the forming block. I have found that this can be effectively accomplished, particularly with light, delicate webs such as the carded fiber webs generally used in forming hat bodies, by means of directed air currents acting upon the web in a direction substantially normal to its surface as it passes onto the forming block.

The particular mechanism for this purpose which is illustrated in Figs. 1 and 4 of the appended drawings, comprises a stub pipe 292 mounted on a bracket 294 which is fixed to the outer end of the arm 20 of swinging frame l8. The outer end of stub pipe 292 is connected by a flexible hose 296 with a fixed pipe 298 leading to an air pressure device (not shown), the hose 296 being provided with considerable slack to permit the pipe 292 to swingwith frame I8 relative to the pipe 298, the pipe 298 being provided with a valve 300 to control the pressure of air delivered therethrough into hose 296. Connected to the stub pipe 292 by a short vertical pipe 302, and supported therefrom; is a curved, horizontally disposed, closed end pipe 304, provided along its upper surface, between its closed ends, with a plurality of closely spaced, small ports 306 through which the compressed air is discharged in a narrow band directed upwardly against the under surface of the web. Pipe 304 curves forwardly toward forming block 32 at both sides in a manner roughly corresponding to the taper of the block from its center toward the ends, so that the band or stream of compressed air strikes all parts of the web at a substantially uniform distance from their point of engagement with the forming block. Pipe 304 is made slightly longer than the forming block so that the air stream which it provides is at least co-extensive in length with the width of the web path as it passes onto the forming block at all positions of the block. Generally speaking, a liglrt pressure of air supplied to the pipe 304 will provide an air stream of sufficient strength to maintain the desired smoothness in the web, although the amount of pressure which it is desirable to employ will vary with the character of the web and other conditions.

End tamper mechanism As previously stated, in order to provide a closed end body orblankyas is usually-desired in hat'making', it isn'ec'essary to tamp or'smooth the edge portions of the web that 'overlap'the end edges of the'forming block down upon the ends of the block. The present invention provides means for automatically performing this operation upon each end While the web is being traversed along the block away from and back to overlapping relation to the end.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1 and 5, there is bolted to the outer side of each of the brackets 24 and 26, and projecting outwardly therefrom between the pair of rollers 30 or 30 connected to each said bracket, one of a pair of identical arms 320, 320. Since these arms are identical, as are also the tampers supported thereon and the co-operating operating means, a description of the arm 320 and its connected tamper and the operating mechanism thereforwill sufiice,'corresponding parts of, and for operating, the opposite end tamper being designated by primes of the same reference numerals.

Extending through the sides of the arm 320 is a longitudinal slot 322 in which'is longitudinally adjustably fixed a transverse pivot pin 324. Extending through the top and bottom of arm 320 is a vertical slot 326 communicating with the slot'322. Rotatably mounted on the pivot pin 324 is a lever arm 328, said armextending downward through the slot 326 and belowthe arm 320. Fixed to the upper end of lever arm 328 and ex tending upwardly and outwardly therefrom is an extension 330, provided with a longitudinal slot 332 (see Fig. 1). Adjustably held on extension 330, by means of a bolt 334 slidably received through slot 332' and clamped by a wing nut 336, is a tamper plate 338. As shown, plate 338 is circular and is provided with a smooth, more or less flat inner face 340.

A'coil spring 342 is connected at one end to lever arm 328 and at its opposite end to the outer end of arm 320. A coil spring 344 is connected at one end to lever arm 328 and-at its opposite end to the inner end of arm 320. The springs 342 and 344 tend to maintain lever arm 328 and extension 330 in a normal idle position shown in full'lines in Fig. 5. In this position of the parts, lever arm 328 is substantially vertically disposed and extension 330 is tilted outwardly so that its'upperend and tamper plate 338 carried thereby, arespaced outwardly of the adjacent end of form-in'gblock' 32' sufficiently to avoid interferencewith the web as it is applied in overlapping relation to said end. Fixedly mounted on base l0 near-the front thereof is a rail 346 having a horizontallydisposed, curved upper arm 348 forming a'cam track, extending in a rearward direction above base I0 slightly above the plane of the lower end of lever arm 328 when said arm is in its normal position. Rail 346 is so located on base ID that the frontend of arm 348 thereof extends into the normal path of swinging movement of lever arm 328 about the axis of swinging frame i8, adjacent the forward end of said path. From its forward end, cam track 348 curves outwardly toward the adjacent side of base l0, then slightly inwardly to its rearward end, as shown in Fig. 4.

As lever arm 328 is carried forwardly by the swinging of frame [8 to adjacent its foremost position, its outer edge engages the inner surface of cam track 348 near the forward end of the track, and the lower end of the lever arm is pivoted slightly inwardly about'pivot pin 324, clockwise as viewed in Fig. 5, from the position shown in-fulllines-in Fig. 5','and extension 330'is -correspondingly pivoted outwardly of its full line position in Fig. 5, against the action of spring 342. As lever arm 328 reaches foremost position, its outer edge rides off the forward end of track 348 and spring 342' returns the lever arm and connected parts to normal full line position of Fig. 5. Track 348 is extended sufficiently across the path of lever arm 328 so that the inner edge of the arm is now disposedoutside the track and as frame l8 reverses its movement'and carries lever arm 328 forwardly again, the'inner edge of said arm engages the outer surface of track 348 and rides along said track to its rearward end. The path oflever arm 328 in moving forwardly into foremost position outside track 348, then rearwardly and outwardly along said track, then inwardly and rearwardly as it leaves the track, is indicated by the dash and arrow lines' in Fig. 4.

Track 348 is so shaped that the lower end of lever arm 328 is carried outwardly thereby as it slides along the track, pivoting the lever and extension 330 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. to dotted line position wherein the inner face 348 of tamper plate 338 is pressed close to the adjacent end of forming-block 32. As plate 338 is thus moved from full line to dotted line positions, Fig. 5, it engages the web portions overhanging the adjacent end of the block and presses and smooths them down on the end of the block, the simultaneous rotation of the block 32 on its own axis carrying all end-overlappingportions of the web between the inwardly'pressed plate 338 and the adjacent end of the block so that all portions of the web overhanging said end are pressed and smoothed down by the plate. When lever arm 328 rides off the rearward end of cam track 348, the lever arm and connected parts are returned to normal, idle position by spring 344.

The length of cam track 348 is such that its engagement with lever arm 328 is completed at about the time the adjacent end of forming block 32 reaches the middle of its forward swinging path, before a fresh portion of the webis overlapped on the end. It will, therefore, be seen that the tamper plate is brought up to the end of the forming block to effect smoothing of the overlapped web portions upon the end only during the interval when the adjacent edge of the web being drawn onto the forming block is within the confines of the block, so that the tamper plate does not interfere with the overlap winding of the web on the end.

The mountings for pivot pin 324, plate 338 and rail 345 permit such adjustments in the relative positions 'of the various parts as may be necessary to enable them to act in the prescribed manner in conjunction with differently sized and shaped forming blocks.

Adjustable base for forming apparatus I have found it desirable, in conjunction with other features of the invention, toprovide for adjustability of the vertical position of the forming apparatus relative to the web source so that, for example, a uniform relation-between the plane of the web source and the plane of the horizontal axis of the forming block may be maintained with differently sized and shaped forming blocks. To this end, as is, shown in Fig, 1, base ID of the forming apparatus is suspended above a fixed 'bed 350 by bolts 352 fixed to the sides of the bed 358 and projecting ver-' tically therefrom. Bolts 352 are received through apertures in the sides of base H] which is vertically adjustably held on the'boltsby lock nuts 354 threaded on the bolts above and below the base l8. r

It will be understood that I have illustrated and described herein preferred embodiments only of the invention and that various alterations may be made in the details thereof and in the forming apparatus in conjunction with which they are illustrated, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. 1

I claim: w

1. In combination with apparatus for operating upon a fibrous web which includes Web feeding means and a forming device adapted to draw thewe'b forwardly thereto while reciprocally :swinging its ends toward and away' from thethe feeding means, web guidingand tension controlling means comprising a'c'ontrol member adapted to engage a surface of the web, transversely thereof, between said feeding means and said forming device to provide an offset in the web path, and'means to reciprocally swing said member about an'axis substantially parallel to the axis of swing of said forming devicein timed relation to the swingin movements of said forming device.

2. In combination with apparatus for openating upon a fibrous web which includes web feeding means and a forming device adapted to draw-the web forwardly-thereto while reciprocallycally swinging its ends toward and away from the feeding means, web guiding and ten sion controlling means comprising 'a control member adapted to engage a surface of the web, transversely thereof, between said feeding means and said forming device to provide an offset in the web path, andmeans to; reciprocally swing said member simultaneously about different axes, one of which is substantiallyparallel and the other of which is substantially normal to the axis of swing of said forming device, in timed relation to the swinging movements of said forming device. y

'3. In combination with apparatus for oper ating upon a fibrous web which includes web feeding means and a forming device adapted to draw the web forwardly thereto while reciprocally swinging its ends toward and away from the feeding means, web guiding and tension controling means comprising a pair of control members adapted to engage the opposite surfaces of the web, transversely thereof, in horizontally and vertically spaced planes between said feeding means and said forming device to provide an offset in the web path, and means to reciprocally swing one of said members about an axis substantially parallel to -the axis of swing of said forming device in timed relation to the swinging movementsfof said forming device.

4. In combination with apparatus for operating upon a fibrous web which includes web feeding means and a forming device adapted to draw the web forwardly thereto while reciprocally swinging its ends toward and away from the feeding means, web guiding and tension controlling means comprising apair of control members adapted to engage the opposite sur-' faces of the web, transversely thereof, in hori-= zontally and vertically spaced planes between said feeding means and said forming device to provide an offset in the web path, and meansto reciprocally swing one of said members relative to the other about an axis substantially; parallel to the axis of swing of said forming device in timed relation to the swinging-umovementsyof said forming device.

5. In combination withapparatus-foroperating upon a fibrous web which includes web feeding means and a forming deviceadapted to draw the web forwardly thereto while reciprocally swinging its ends toward and away from the feeding means, web guiding and tension controlling means comprising a pair of control members adapted, to engage theroppositesurfaces of the web, transversely thereof, in horizontally and vertically spaced planes between said feeding means and said forming device to provide an offset in the web path, means to reciprocally swing One of said members relative to the other about an axis substantially parallel to the axis of swing of said forming device, and means to reciprocally swing said one of said members simultaneously about an axis substantially normal to the axis of swing of said forming device, in timed relation to the swinging movements of said forming device.

6. In combination with apparatus for operating upon a fibrous web which includes web feeding means and a forming device adapted to draw the Web forwardly ythereto-while reciprocally swinging its ends toward and away from the feeding means, web guiding and tension con trolling means comprising a pair of control members adapted to engage the opposite surfaces of the web, transversely thereof, in horizontally and vertically spaced planes. between said feeding means and said forming device to provide an offset in the web path, means to reciprocally swing both of said members about an axis substantially normal to the axis of swing of said forming device, and means simultaneously to reciprocally swing one of said members relative to the other about an axis substantially parallel to the axis of swing of said forming device, in timed relation to the swingingmovements of said forming device.

7. In combination with apparatus for operating upon a fibrous web which includes Web feeding means and a forming device adapted to draw the web forwardly thereto while reciprocally swinging its ends toward and away from the feeding means, web guiding and tension-controling means comprising a pair of control members adapted to engage the opposite surfaces of the web, transversely thereof, in horizontally and vertically spaced planes between said feeding means and said forming device to provide an offset in the web path, one of said members hav-- ing its web engaging surface, at an end thereof, curved in a plane normal to'the plane of the web and transversely ofthe web, means to reciprocally swing both of said members about an axis substantially normal to the axis of swing of said forming device to slide an edge portion of the web reciprocally laterally over said curved surface of said member, and means to simultaneously reciprocally swing one of said members relative to the other about an axis substantialy parallel to the axis of swing of said forming device.

-8. In combination with apparatus for operating upon a fibrous web which includes web feeding means and a forming device adapted to draw the web forwardly thereto while reciprocally swinging its ends toward and away from the feeding means, web guiding andtension'controling means comprising a control member adapted to engage a surface of the "web, transversely thereofgbetween, said feeding means and said formingdevice .to provide an offset in the web path, means mounting said member for swinging movementsabout an axis intermediate the ends of said member and the sides of the web path and substantially parallel to the axis of swing of said forming device, and means to reciprocally swing said member about its said axis in timed relation, tothe swinging movements of said forming device.

9, In combination with apparatus for operating upon a fibrous web whichincludes web feeding means and a forming device adapted to draw the web forwardly thereto while reciprocally swinging its ends toward and away from the feeding means, web guiding and tension controling. means comprising a control member adaptedto engage asurfaceof the web, transversely -thereo f, betweensaid feeding means and said forming device to provide an offset in the web path, means mounting said member for swinging movementsabout different axes intermediate the ends;of;said member and the sides of the web path, one of said axes being substantially parallel to, and the other of said axes being substantially normal to, the axis of swing of said'forming device, and means to reciprocally swing said member simultaneously about its said axes in timed relation to the swinging movements of said forming device.

10. Incombination with apparatus for operatingupon a fibrous web which includes web feedingmeans and a forming device adapted t draw the web forwardly thereto while reciprocally swinging its ends toward and away from the feeding means, web guiding and tension controling means comprising a pair of control members adapted to engage the opposite surfaces of the web, transversely thereof, in horizontally and vertically spaced planes between said feeding means-and said formingdevice to provide an offset in the web path, means mounting one of said members for swinging movements about an axis intermediate the ends of said member and the sides of the web path and substantially parallel to the axis-of swing of said forming device, and means to reciprocally swing said one of said members about its said axis in'timed relation to the swinging movements of said forming device.

11. In combination withapparatus for operating upon a fibrous web which includes web feeding means and a formingdevice adapted to draw the web forwardly thereto while reciprocally swinging its ends toward and away from the feeding means, web guiding and tension controlling 'means comprising a pair of control members adapted to engage the opposite surfaces of the web, transversely thereof, in horizontally and vertically spaced planes between said feeding means and said forming device to provide an offset in the web path, means mounting one of said members for swinging movements about an axis intermediate the ends of said member and the sides of the web path and substantially parallel to the axis of swing of said formirm device, and means to reciprocally swing said one of .said members about its said axis relative to the other of said members, in timed relation to the swinging movements of said forming device.

12. In combination with apparatus for operating upon a fibrous web which includes web feeding means and a forming device adapted to draw the web forwardly thereto ,while reciprocally swing-ing its ends toward and away from the feeding means, web guiding and tension controling means comprising a pair of control members adapted to engage the opposite surfaces of the web, transversely thereof, in horizontally and vertically spaced planes between said feeding means and said forming device to provide an offset in the Web path, means mounting one of said members for swinging movements about an axis intermediate the ends of said member and the sides of the web path and substantially parallel to the axis of swing of said forming device, means to reciprocally swing said one of said members about its said axis in timed relation to the swinging movements of said forming de vice, means mounting both of said members for simultaneous swinging movements about an axis intermediate the ends of said members and the sides of said path and substantially normal to the axis of swing of said forming device, and means to swing said members about their said axes in timed relation to the swinging movements of said forming device.

13. In combination with apparatus for operating upon a fibrous web which includes web feeding means and a forming device adapted to draw the web forwardly thereto while reciprocally swinging its ends toward and away from the feeding means, web guiding and tension controling means comprising a pair of control members adapted to engage the opposite surfaces of the web, transversely thereof, in horizontally and vertically spaced planes between said feeding means and said forming device to provide an offset in the web path, one of said members having its web engaging surface at an end thereof curved in a plane normal to the plane of the web and transversely of the web, means for reciprocally swinging said one of said members about an axis intermediate the ends of said member and the sides of the web path and substantially parallel'to the axis of swing of the forming device, and means for reciprocally swinging at least one of said members simultaneously about an axis intermediate its ends and the sides of the web path and substantially nor mal to the axis of swing of said forming device, in timed relation to the swinging movements of said forming device.

14. In combination with apparatus for operating upon a fibrous web which includes web feeding means and a forming device adapted to draw the web forwardly thereto while reciprocally swinging its ends toward and away from the feeding means, web guiding and tension controling means comprising a pair of control members adapted to engage the opposite surfaces of the web, transversely thereof, in horizontally and vertically spaced planes between said feeding means and said forming device to provide an offset in the web path, one of said members having its web engaging surface at an end thereof curved in a plane normal to the plane of the web and transversely of the web, means for reciprocally swinging said one of said members about an axis intermediate the ends of said member and the sides of the Web path and sub- '15. In combination with apparatus for operating upon a fibrous web which includes web feeding means and a web winding device having a tapered winding surface, said device being adapted to be rotated to draw the web thereto and to wind the web thereon and to be simultaneously reciprocatedrelative to the web, transversely of the web, web guiding and tension controling means comprising a control member adapted to engage a surface of the web, transversely thereof, between said feeding means and said winding device to provide an offset in the web path, and means to reciprocally swing said member about an axis substantially normal to the plane of reciprocation of said winding device in timed relation to the reciprocal movements of said winding device.

16. In combination with apparatus forv operating upon a fibrous web which includes web feedmeans and a web winding device having a tapered winding surface, said device being adapted to be rotated to draw the web thereto and to wind the web thereon and to be simultaneously reciprocated relative to the web, transversely of the web, web guiding and tension controling means comprising a control member adapted to engage a surface of the web, transversely thereof, between'said feeding means and said winding device to provide an offset in the web path, and means to reciprocally swing said member simultaneously about different axes; one of which is substantially normal to the plane of reciprocation of said winding device and the other of which is substantially normal to such first named axis and substantially parallel to the direction of movement of the web in timed relation to the reciprocal movements of said winding device.

17. In combination with apparatus for operating upon a fibrous web which includes web feeding means and a web winding device having a tapered winding surface, said device being adapted to be rotated to draw the web thereto and to wind the web thereon and to be simultaneously reciprocated relative to the web, transversely of the web, web guiding and tension controling means comprising a pair of control members adapted to engage the opposite surfaces of the web, transversely thereof, in horizontally and vertically spaced planes between said feeding means and said winding means to provide an offset in the web path, and means to reciprocally swing one of said members about an axis substantially normal to the plane of reciprocation of said winding device in timed relation to the reciprocal movements of said winding device.

18. In combination with apparatus for operating upon a fibrous web which includes web feeding means and a web winding device having a tapered winding surface, said device being adapted to'be rotated to draw the web thereto and to wind the web thereon and to be simultaneously reciprocated relative to the web, transversely of the web, web guiding and tension controling means comprising a pair of control members adapted to engage the opposite surfaces of the web, transversely thereof, in horizontally and vertically spaced planes between said feeding means and said winding means to provide an offset in the web path, means to reciprocally swing at least one of said members about an axis substantially parallel to the direc tion of movement of the web, and means simul taneously to reciprocally swing one of said members about an axis substantially normal to said first named axis and to the plane of reciprocation of the winding device, in timed relation to the reciprocal movements of said windmg device. 7

' 19. In Combination with apparatus for operating upon a fibrous web which includes web feeding means and a web winding device having a tapered winding surface, said device being adapted to be rotated to draw the web thereto and to wind the web thereon and to be simultaneously reciprocated relative to the web, transtially normal to said first named axis and substantially parallel to the direction of movement of the web, in timed relation to the reciprocal l movements of said winding device.

' 20. In combination with apparatus for oper- "ating upon a fibrous web which includes web j'fe'eding means and a web winding device having 'atapered winding surface, said device being adapt- 'ed to be rotated to draw the web thereto and to wind the web thereon and to be simultaneously reciprocated relative to the web, transversely of the web, web guiding and tension controling means comprising a pair of control members adapted to engage the opposite surfaces of the web, transversely thereof, in horizontally and vertically spaced planes between said feeding means and said winding means to provide an ofiset in the web path, means to recipr a 11 swing both of said members about an axis substantially parallel to the direction of movement of the web, and means simultaneously to reciprocally swing one of said members relative to the other about an axis substantially normal to said first named axis and to the plane of recipr ocation of the winding device, in timed relation to the reciprocal movements of said windin'g device. i

I 21. In combination with apparatus for operating upon a fibrous web which includes web feedmg means and a web winding device having a tapered winding surface, said device being adapted to be rotatedito draw the web thereto ,and to wind the web thereon and to be simultaneously reciprocated relative to the web, transversely of the Web, web guiding and tension controling means comprising a pair of control members adapted to engage the opposite surfaces of the web, transversely thereof, in horizontally and vertically spaced planes between said feeding means and said winding means to -provide an offset in the webpath, one of said members having its web engaging surface, at an end thereof, curved in a plane normal to the plane of the web and transversely of the web, means to reciprocally swing at least one of said members about an axis substantially parallel to I the direction of movement of the web to slide an edge portion of the web reciprocally, laterally over said curved surface of said member, and means to simultaneously reciprocally swing one of said members about an axis substantially normal to said first named axis and to the plane of reciprocation of said winding device in timed ates-s34 relation to the reciprocal movements of said winding device. I

22. In combination with apparatus for operating upon a fibrous web which includes web feeding means and a web winding device having a tapered winding surface, said device being adapted to be rotated to draw the web thereto and to wind the web thereon and to be simultaneously reciprocated relative to the web, transversely of the web, web guiding and tension co'ntroling means comprising a pair of control menibers adapted to engage the opposite surfaces of the web, transversely there'oi, in horizontally and vertically spaced planes between said feeding means and said winding means to provide an offset in the web path, one of said members having its web engaging surface, at an end thereof, curved in a plane normal to the plane of the web and transversely of the web, means to reciprocally swing both of said members about an axis substantially parallel to the direction of movement of the web to slide an edge portion of the web reciprocally, laterally over said curved surface of said member, and means to simultaneously reciprocally swing one of said members relative to the other about an axis substantially normal to said first named-axis and to the plane of reciprocation of said winding device in timed relation to the reciprocal movements of said winding device.

23. In combination with apparatus for operating upon a fibrous web which includes web feeding means and a web winding device having a winding surface oppositely tapered from the center toward the ends, said device being adapted to be rotated to draw the web thereto and to wind the web thereon and to be simultaneously reciprocated endwise relative to the web transver'sely of the web, web guiding and tension controling means comprising a control member adapted to engage a surface of the web, transversely thereof, between said feeding means and said winding device to provide an offset in the web path, and means to reciprocally swing said member about an axis intermediate the ends of said member and the sides of the web path and substantially normal to the plane of reciprocation of said winding device in timed relation to the reciprocal movements of said winding device.

24. In combination with apparatus for operating upon a fibrous web which includes Web feeding means and a web winding device having a winding surface oppositely tapered from the center toward the ends, said device being adapted to be rotated to draw the web thereto and to wind the web thereon and to be simultaneously reciprocated endwise relative to the web transversely of the web, web guiding and tension controling means comprising a control member adapted to engage a surface of the web, transversely thereof, between said feeding means and said winding device to provide an offset in the web path, and means to reciprocally swing said member simultaneously about different axes, one of which is substantially normal to the plane of reciprocation of said winding device and the other of which is substantially normal to said first named axis and substantially parallel to the direction of movement of the Web and both of which are intermediate the ends of said members and the sides of said web path, in timed relation to the reciprocal movements of said windinc device.

25. In combination with apparatus for operating upon a fibrous web which includes web feeding means and a web\ winding device having a winding surface oppositely tapered from the center toward the ends, said device being adapted to be rotated to draw the web thereto and to wind the web thereon and to be simultaneously reciprocated endwise relative to the web transversely of the web, web guiding and tension controling means comprising a pair of control members adapted to engage the opposite surfaces of the web, transversely thereof, in horizontally and vertically spaced planes between said feeding means and said winding means to provide an offset in the web path, and means to reciprocally swing one of said members about an axis substantially normal to the plane of reciprocation of said winding device and intermediate the ends of said member and the sides of the web path, in timed relation to the reciprocal movements of said winding device,

26. In combination with apparatus for operating upon a fibrous web which includes web feeding means and a web winding device having a winding surface oppositely tapered from the center toward the ends, said device being adapted to be rotated to draw the web thereto and to wind the web thereonand to be simultaneously reciprocated endwise relative to the web transversely of the web, web guiding and tension controling means comprising a pair of control mem bers adapted to engage the opposite surfaces of the web, transversely thereof, in horizontally and vertically spaced planes between said feeding means and said winding means to provide an offset in the web path, means to reciprocally swing one of said members relative to the other about an axis substantially normal to the plane of reciprocation of said winding device and intermediate the ends of said member and the sides of the web path, and means to simultaneously swing said one of said members about a second axis substantially normal to said first named axis and substantially parallel to the direction of movement of the web, in timed relation to the reciprocal movements of said winding device.

27. In combination with apparatus for operating upon a fibrous web which includes web feeding means and a web winding device having a winding surface oppositely tapered from the center toward the ends, said device being adapted to be rotated to draw the web thereto and to wind the web thereon and to be simultaneously reciprocated endwise relative to the web transversely of the web, web guiding and tension controling means comprising a pair of control members adapted to engage the opposite surfaces of the web, transversely thereof, in horizontally and vertically spaced planes between said feeding means and said winding means to provide an oifset in the web path, means to reciprocally swing one of said members about an axis substantially normal to the plane of reciprocation of said winding device and intermediate the ends of said member and the sides of the web path, and means to simultaneously swing one of said members about a second axis substantially normal to said first named axis and substantially parallel to the direction of movement of the web and intermediate the sides of the web path, in timed relation to the reciprocal movements of said winding device.

28. In combination with apparatus for operating upon a fibrous web which includes web feeding means and a web winding device having a winding surface oppositely tapered from the rocation of center, toward the ends, said device being adapt- ,ed to be rotated to draw the web thereto and to wind the web thereon and to be simultaneously reciprocated endwise relativetothe web transsersely cf the web, web guiding'and tension controling means comprising a pair of control members adapted to engage the opposite surfaces of the direction of movement of the web, and intermediate the ends of said member and the sides of the web path to slide the edge portions of the web laterally, reciprocally over said curved ends of the web engaging surface of said curved member, and means for reciprocally swinging one of said members about a second axis substantially normal to said first named axis and to the plane of reciprocation of said winding device and in termediate the ends of said member and the sides of the web path, in timed relation to the reciprocal movements of said Winding device.

29. In combination with apparatus for operating upon a fibrous webwhich includes web feeding means and a web windin device having a winding surface oppositely tapered from the center toward the ends, said device being adapt ed to be rotated to draw the web thereto andto wind the web thereon and to be simultaneously reciprocated endwise relative to the web transversely of the web, web guiding and tension controling means comprising, a pair of control mem bers adapted to engage the opposite surfaces of the web, transversely thereof, in horizontally and vertically spaced planes between said feeding means and said winding means to provide an oifset in the web path, one of said members having its web engaging surface, at opposite ends thereof, curved in a plane normal to the plane of the web and transversely of the web, means to reciprocally swing both of said members about an axis substantially parallel to the direction of movement of the web and intermediate the ends of said members and the sides of the web path to slide theedge portions of the web laterally,

reciprocally over said curved ends of the web engaging surface of said member, and 'means for reciprocally swinging said one of said members relative to the other of said members about a second axis substantially normal to said first named axis and to the plane ofrecipsaid winding device and intermediate the ends of said member and the sides of the web path, in timedrelation to the reciprocal movements of said winding device.

30. In apparatus for guiding and controling the tension of a continuously advancing web, the combination of a control member engageable with a surface of the web, transversely thereof, to provide an offset in the web path. means mounting said member for swinging movements about two axes, one of which is substantially parallel to the direction of movement of the web and the other of which is substantially normal to the plane of the web and means for swinging said member simultaneously about said axes. J

31; In apparatus for guiding and controling the tension of a continuously advancing web.,the

combination of a pair of control members engageable with the opposite surfaces of the web, in horizontally and verticaliy spaced planes to provide an offset in the web path, means mounting one of said members for swinging movements about an axis substantially parallel to the direction of movement of the web, means mounting the other of said members for swinging movements about an axis substantially normal to the plane of the web, and means for swinging said members simultaneously about their said axes.

32. In apparatus for guiding and controling the tension of a continuously advancing web, the combination of a rock frame, means pivotally mounting said frame adjacent the advancing Web, a control member connected to said rock frame to pivot therewith and engageable with a surface of the web, transversely thereof, to provide an offset in the web path, means pivotally connecting said member to said frame for swin ing movements of said member relative to said frame in a plane transverse to the plane of pivotal movement of said frame and means for simultaneously swinging said frame and said member about their respective pivots.

33. In apparatus for guiding and controling the tension of a continuously advancing web, the combination of a rock frame, means pivotally mounting said frame adjacent the advancing web, a first control member connected to said rock frame to pivot therewith and engageable with a surface of the web transversely thereof, means pivotally connecting said member to said frame for swinging movements of said member relative to said frame in a plane transverse to the plane of pivotal movement of said frame, a second control member connected to said frame to pivot therewith and engageable with the surface of the web opposite the surface engaged by said first control member to provide, with said first control member, an offset in the web path, and means for simultaneously swinging said frame and said first control member about their respective pivots.

34. In apparatus for guiding and controling the tension of a continuously advancing web, the combination of a rock frame, means pivotally mounting said frame adjacent the advancing web, a control member connected to said rock frame to pivot therewith and engageable with a surface of the web, transversely thereof, to provide an offset in the web path, means pivotally connecting said member to said frame for swinging movements of said member relative to said frame in a plane transverse to the plane of pivotal movement of said frame, means for reciprocally swinging said frame about its said pivot, and means actuated by the swinging of said frame for reciprocally swinging said control member about its said pivot.

35. Apparatus for smoothing a continuously advancing, fragile fibrous web which comprises an air duct connected to a source of compressed air under controlled pressure, nozzle means connected to said duct and arranged to direct the air therefrom against a surface of the Web in a stream extending across substantially the full width of the web path and moving in a direction substantially normal to the plane of said web surface, and means for reciprocally shifting said advancing web laterally relative to said nozzle means to produce a substantially continuous sidewise movement of said air stream upon said web.

36. Apparatus for smoothing a continuously advancing fragile fibrous web which comprises an air duct connected to a source of compressed air under controlled pressure, nozzle means connected to said duct and arranged to direct the air therefrom against a surface of the web in a stream extending across substantially the full Width of the Web path and moving in a direction substantially normal to the plane 01' said web surface, and means for reciprocally shifting said nozzle means laterally of the web path to produce a substantially continuous sidewise movement of said air stream upon said web.

In combination with apparatus for oper ating upon a fibrous web which includes Web feeding means and a web winding device being adapted to be rotated to draw the web thereto and to wind the web thereon and to be simultaneously reciprocated relative to the web, trans-- versely of the web, means for smoothing the web as it passes onto the winding device comprising an air duct connected to a source of compressed air under controlled pressure, nozzle means connected to said duct and arranged to direct the air therefrom against a surface of the web, as the web passes from said feeding means to said winding device and immediately preceding passage of the web onto said winding device, in the form of a narrow, substantially continuous air stream extending transversely of the web path and moving in a direction substantially normal to the plane of said web surface, and means mounting said nozzle means to reciprocate with said winding device relative to the Web, transversely thereof,

38. In combination with apparatus for operating upon a fibrous web which includes web feeding means and a Web winding device having a tapered winding surface, said device being adapted to be rotated about a horizontal axis to draw the web thereto and to wind the Web thereon and to be simultaneously reciprocated relative to the web, transversely of the web, means for supporting and smoothing the web as it passes onto the winding device comprising an air duct connected to a source of compressed air under controlled pressure, nozzle means connected to said duct and arranged t direct the air therefrom in a plurality of jets against the under surface of the web as the web passes from said feeding means to said winding device and immediately preceding passage of the web onto said winding device, said jets forming a narrow, substantially continuous air stream extending transversely of the web path and moving in a direction substantially normal to the plane of said web surface, and means mounting said nozzle means to reciprocate with said winding device relative to the web, transversely thereof.

39. In combination with apparatus for operating upon a fibrous web which includes a rotary forming device adapted to wind the web thereon and a frame supporting said device for reciprocal swinging movements relative to the web to and from a position such that a portion of the web is caused to overlap an end of the device, means for pressing and smoothing the overlapping web portion upon said end of the device comprising a presser member pivotally connected to said frame for rocking relative thereto about an axis substantially parallel to said end of said forming device, and means for rocking said member about its said pivot axis during predetermined partial swinging movement of said frame to cause. said member to press a said overlapping web portion against said end of the forming device and to remove said member to an inoperative position spaced out wardly of said end of the forming device.

40. In combination with apparatus for operating upon a fibrous web which includes a rotary forming device adapted to wind the web thereon and a frame supporting said device for reciprocal swinging movements relative to the Web to and from a position such that a portion of the web is caused to overlap an end of the device, means for pressing and smoothing the overlapping web portion upon'said end of the device comprising a presser member pivotally connected to said frame for rocking relative thereto about an axis substantially parallel to said end of said forming device, means yieldably urging said member about its said pivot axis to a normal inoperative position spaced outwardly of said end of the forming device and cam means fixedly located adjacent a portion of the path of swinging movement of said member about the axis of swing of said frame to engage said member and to cause it to rock inwardly about its said axis toward the forming device against the action of said yieldable means to press a said overlapping web portion against said end of the forming device.

41. In combination with apparatus for operating upon a fibrous web which includes a rotary forming device adapted to wind the Web thereon and a frame supporting said device for reciprocal swinging movements relative to the web to and from a position such that a portion of the web is caused to overlap an end of the device, means for pressing and smoothing the overlapping web portion upon said end of the device comprising a presser member pivotally connected to said frame for rocking relative there to about an axis transverse to the axis of rotation of said forming device, means for rocking said member about its said pivot axis during predetermined partial swinging movement of said frame to cause said member to press a said overlapping web portion against said end of the forming device and to remove said member to an inoperative position spaced outwardly of said end of the forming device, and means pivotally connecting said member to said frame for adjustably locating the pivot axis of said member in different positions longitudinally of the axis of said forming device,

42. In combination with apparatus for operating upon a fibrous web which includes a rotary forming device adapted to wind the web thereon, a bed of rollers arranged in pairs longitudinally of said forming device and rotatably supporting the same, means for rotating said rollers to rotate said forming device, and a frame supporting said rollers for reciprocal swinging movements relative to the web to and from a position such that a portion of the web is caused to overlap an end of the forming device, means for pressing and smoothin the overlapping web portion upon said end of the device comprising a lever extending vertically between a pair of said rollers adjacent said end of the device, a presser member attached to said lever and arranged above said rollers, means pivotally connecting said lever to said frame for rocking of said lever and said member about an axis transverse to the axis of rotation of said forming device and including means for yieldably 'urging said lever to a normal inoperative position with said presser member spaced outwardly of said end of the forming device, and means acting upon said lever during predetermined partial swinging movement of said frame to rock said lever and said member about said pivot axis to cause said member to press a said overlapping web portion upon said end of the forming device and thereupon to release said lever to swing outwardly to said inoperative position under the action-of said yieldable means.

43. In combination with apparatus for operating upon a fibrous web which includes a rotary forming device adapted to wind the web thereon, a bed of rollers arranged in pairs longitudinally of said forming device and rotatably supporting the same, means for rotating said rollers to rotate said forming device, and a frame supporting said rollers for reciprocal swinging movements relative to the web to and from a position such that a portion of the Web is caused to overlap an end of the forming device, means for pressing and smoothing the overlapping web portion upon said end of the device comprising an arm projecting outwardly from said frame below a pair of said rollers adjacent said end of the forming device, a lever pivoted to said arm for rocking about an axis transverse to the axis of rotation of said forming device in a vertical plane between said pair of rollers, a presser member connected to said lever and disposed above said rollers, and means acting upon said lever during predetermined partial swinging movement of said frame to rock said lever and said member about said pivot axis to cause said member to press a said overlapping web portion upon said end of the forming device and to remove said member to an inoperative position spaced from said end of the forming device.

44. In combination with apparatus for operating upon a fibrous web which includes a rotary forming device adapted to wind the web thereon, a bed of rollers arranged in pairs longitudinally of said forming device and rotatably supporting the same, means for rotating said rollers to rotate said forming device, and a frame supporting said rollers for reciprocal swinging movements relative to the web to. and from a position such that a portion of the web is caused to overlap an end of the forming device, means for pressing and smoothing the overlapping web portion upon said end of the device comprising an arm projecting outwardly from said frame below a pair of said rollers adjacent said end of the forming device, a lever pivoted to said arm for rocking about an axis transverse t the axis of rotation of said forming device in a vertical plane between said pair of rollers, said arm being provided with means for adjustably positioning said lever pivot longitudinally of the axes of said rollers, a presser member connected to said lever and disposed above said rollers, and means acting upon said lever dLuing predetermined partial swinging movement of said frame to rock said lever and said member about said pivot axis to cause said member to press a said overlapping web portion upon said end of the forming device and to remove said member to an inoperative position spaced from said end of the forming device.

LE BARON WALLACE NEELY. 

